Sebastian looked around at the empty tavern. From up here on stage, you could see everything in a single glance. The place was deserted, the only soul in sight a single maid, quietly arranging jugs on the counter...

The classroom where Sebastian had taught himself to play the lute many years ago had been just as empty. Day after day, he would hole himself up in the room with the school's crummy old lute, practicing simple melodies from a tattered music book. Over and over, the metronome marked the rhythm: one, two, three, four, two, two, three, four... Dreaming of performing at the school's talent festival, the boy practiced intensively. His delight knew no bounds when the festival's organizers decided to make an exception for him, allowing such a young but diligent candidate to participate. And his disappointment was bottomless when, in the middle of his performance one of the strings snapped as if to betray him. The older students laughed cruelly, and mocked him for a long time afterwards. Where are they now?

With well-practiced gestures, the musician tuned up his instrument, running his fingers along the strings from the fretboard to the bridge. His years of experience told him that the lute was in perfect order.

Just then, a weary-looking man entered the tavern, waved to the maid and slumped heavily onto a bench. His face was lined with wrinkles, and his eyes were filled with sadness.

Sebastian remembered the tired and guilty look on his father's face as he explained to his son that he wouldn't be able to continue paying for his education at music school. And then he remembered his own joyful laughter when he replied that, having become the best student on the course, he had been awarded a large scholarship that would cover the fees until his graduation.

The musician began to stroke the strings, one chord, another — and the tired man's eyes lit up, his heavy face broadening into a smile. Meanwhile, a woman with an impeccably neat appearance and a distinctly military bearing entered the tavern. "She looks so much like Keira! Except for the strange way she moves, so fluid..." thought Sebastian, continuing to play.

He had just graduated from music school when the first war with the Darkness began. His father, somehow managing to scrape together enough money, bought an old lute and presented it to Sebastian. "Well, good luck, son!" he said, waving goodbye and holding back his tears. The young soldiers were assigned to Captain Keira's detachment. At first, this beautiful captain was often made the object of lewd jokes behind her back. But her cool temper, sharp mind and incredible combat skills soon won everyone's respect and admiration. And her discipline, of course: she was as tough as nails, with an iron-like determination. On only a few occasions was Keira seen to let a tear fall from her eyes — when, sitting by the fire, she let herself be carried off by the enchanting melodies from Sebastian's lute.

Under Keira's guidance, the young musician transformed into a serious fighter. Sebastian still remembered the day when they were told that Keira had been transferred to Wilheim, where she would lead Lady Octaviana's guard. Oh, what an uproar there had been among her now loyal troops! Less than a year later, the sad news about their beloved captain reached the soldiers, and they all mourned bitterly.

The stern woman at the table relaxed a little and nodded to the lute player. At that moment, a group of ruddy lads burst into the tavern, full of noise and good cheer. Tables were pushed aside, mugs were raised, and Sebastian's melody soared and fell through it all, flowing like a turbulent river, rising like the sun through the morning fog...

The fog that morning was so thick, you couldn't see your hand if you stretched it out in front of you. The detachment was marching to the Western Mountains, and was forced to stop for a rest somewhere near the Deadly Marie. It was a grim place, but there wasn't a single mage among them capable of dispelling the darkness and lighting the way forward. So the soldiers went about their tasks, some starting a fire, others cleaning weapons or drying their clothes. Suddenly, a stranger thing happened: the fog cleared slightly, and the soldiers could finally see through the haze — but only to discover that half of the detachment had mysteriously disappeared. Then, inexplicably, those who remained started throwing themselves at each other like mindless, frenzied beasts, maiming and killing. An eerie, enchanting melody rang out from somewhere nearby, entrancing them, drawing them into a maelstrom of madness. Sebastian heard it too, but in a different way: the musician analyzed it, broke it down into notes and chords... Eventually, he was able to resist its mesmerizing charm.

From all around, the terrifying, heart-rending screams of the dying rang out. More and more soldiers entered into the fog, slaughtering each other... Unable to shake off their delusionary fever, they hacked down their comrades as sworn enemies. The music was gradually drilling its way into his mind, and Sebastian realized that soon he, too, would succumb to its delirium. He grabbed his sword and plunged into the fog. On his back, as always, hung his trusty lute. It was impossible to make out either enemy or ally. A white veil covered everything, and all that could be heard was the ghostly melody and the screams of the dying. The musician realized that his sword was useless here. Here, he thought, nothing was any use.

Sebastian paused his playing for a moment. The noise and chatter among the audience in the tavern subsided, and everyone turned and looked towards the stage where the musician was sitting in silence.

He remembered how, in a sudden flash of insight, he had thrown down his weapon and reached for his beloved instrument. He closed his eyes and started to play, and play, and play... His mind was drowning in the riot of sounds, tormenting his soul like hands torturing strings, but his hands played on. The two melodies clashed in a duel. A huge shadow flashed through the fog, accompanied by a horrific howl, and something monstrous slumped away back into the swamp with a loud squelch. Bogger! That's who had attacked them! The sorcery of the monster was no match for Sebastian's wondrous playing. One by one, the soldiers, brought out of their madness by his music, gathered around him and pushed back the darkness with fire and blade.

The swamp-dweller was vanquished. Each fighter, still hardly believing in their salvation, came to thank Sebastian personally. For these crude people, skilled only in battle and debauchery, a new weapon of victory had been revealed to them: the great power of art. Word of the feat quickly spread throughout the Dominion.

The lute wept and sang in the master's hands. The packed tavern shook as the audience rose from their seats, roaring with shouts and applause. Nothing touches the soul like the mysterious power of music from the hands of an unsurpassed virtuoso. But no, there's nothing magic about it! Simply an ordinary person and his many years of dedicated practice. Behind the mask of a dandy and people's favorite stood the rugged strength of a soldier who had seen the atrocities and endured the hardships of war. Sometimes, the ordinary people are the most extraordinary of all.

P.S.: By the way, the woman with a military bearing really turned out to be Keira. Upon learning of the fate of her former subordinate, she voluntarily came to pay Sebastian a personal visit, share her story, and invite the hero to join the Guardians.